Water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler, the apparatus having a motorized mechanism for securely gripping the bottle, a motorized mechanism for raising and lowering the bottle, and a motorized mechanism for rotationally inverting the bottle, the apparatus enabling a person with limited physical strength to lift and move a full upright water bottle from the floor, invert the bottle, and place it neck down into the well of a water cooler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to devices for lifting a filled upright water bottle, rotating the lifted water bottle to an inverted position, and placing the inverted water bottle into the receiving well of a water cooler. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved mechanism and method for grasping the water bottle and additionally an improved mechanism and method for lifting and inverting the lifted water bottle.

Many offices and establishments offer bottled water to their employees and patrons. Water bottles are normally associated with a water cooler for dispensing and are initially sealed with a cap which is removed in order that the bottle may be lifted and inverted to be placed neck down into the receiving well of the cooler. These plastic or glass bottles, when full of water, are cumbersome and heavy so that some persons simply cannot perform the task of lifting and inverting the water bottle and then lowering it into the well of the cooler.

An apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly], the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The apparatus disclosed contemplates a mechanism for gripping the water bottle comprising a plate supporting a pair of flexible fastening straps including conventional fasteners such as Velcro, for releasably embracing and supporting the bottle. The apparatus disclosed further contemplates a mechanism for rotating the water bottle, as it is being lifted, comprising a pair of 90° rotating cams attached via a support shaft to the rear of the plate. The cams are adapted to cam or bear against two rotatable bearings, mounted in series to the vertical frame of the apparatus, which serve as cam followers in causing the cams, support shaft, and plate to rotate in two 90° increments so that a water bottle mounted to the plate will turn from an upright position to an inverted position as the bottle is lifted.

In use, the prior art apparatus starts with the lifting mechanism at its lowered position. A full water bottle resting upright on the ground is secured to the lifting mechanism by the fastening straps. Next, the bottle is elevated by the lifting mechanism, being rotated during the lift by 90° when the first cam encounters the first roller bearing and by another 90° when the second cam encounters the second roller bearing. Next, the bottle is lowered by the lifting mechanism so that the bottle comes to rest on a water cooler with the bottle neck positioned inside the well of the cooler. Finally, the fastening straps are removed to release the bottle and the apparatus is moved away. To reset the apparatus so that it is ready to use on another water bottle, the lifting mechanism is returned to its lowered position. During the process of securing, elevating, and rotating the bottle, a bottle closure device is disposed on the mouth of the bottle so that no water spills from the inverted bottle, the bottle closure device adapted to interact with the well of a water cooler to open under the weight of the water bottle once the bottle is placed into the well.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle that includes an improved mechanism and method for gripping a water bottle. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle which includes an improved mechanism and method for rotating a lifted water bottle from an upright position to an inverted position, independently from the lifting mechanism, so that the bottle may be inverted either during the lift or afterward.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler which includes both a bottle gripping mechanism and a bottle rotating mechanism that are significantly different from that disclosed in the prior art, in combination with the bottle lifting mechanism previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly].

The bottle gripping mechanism of the present invention includes a pair of pivotably mounted gripper arms actuated by a motor driven cam. The gripper arms secure the water bottle to the lifting mechanism surely, and can be varied in construction to accommodate water bottles of different geometries, as required. The bottle rotating mechanism of the present invention includes a rotatably mounted horizontal support shaft suspending the bottle gripping mechanism from the bottle lifting mechanism, the rotatably mounted support shaft being actuated by a motor.

In performing their respective functions as part of the apparatus of the present invention, the three mechanisms interact as follows. The gripping mechanism grips a water bottle. The rotating mechanism rotates the gripping mechanism along with the bottle. The lifting mechanism raises and lowers the rotating mechanism and the gripping mechanism along with the bottle. During at least the steps of rotating the bottle to an inverted position and then lowering it into the well of a water cooler, a bottle closure device (similar or equivalent to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly], as previously described) is disposed on the mouth of the bottle so that no water spills from the inverted bottle before it comes to rest in the well of the water cooler.

In use, the apparatus starts with the lifting mechanism at its lowered position, with the gripping mechanism released from its gripping state. A full water bottle resting upright on the ground is first grabbed by the gripping mechanism. Next, the bottle, along with the gripping and rotating mechanisms, is elevated by the lifting mechanism. During or after the lift, the bottle, along with the gripping mechanism, is inverted by the rotating mechanism. Next, the bottle, along with the gripping and rotating mechanisms, is lowered by the lifting mechanism so that the bottle comes to rest on a water cooler with the bottle neck positioned inside the well of the cooler. Finally, the bottle is released by unclamping the gripping mechanism and the apparatus is moved away. To reset the apparatus so that it is ready to use on another water bottle, the empty gripping mechanism and the rotating mechanism are then lowered by the lifting mechanism, restoring the lifting mechanism to its lowered position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along Line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking down showing the gripper mechanism, the rotator mechanism, and the elevator assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is the same view as FIG. 2 showing the gripper arms disengaged.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the cam and the connecting arms to the gripper arms in the disengaged position.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of the cam and the connecting arms to the gripper arms in the engaged position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer to like parts or elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 an isometric view of the water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting apparatus 10 of the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a base 12 which may be of welded tubular steel frame construction or of aluminum or suitable plastic construction or a combination of each. Swivel castors or wheels 14 may be at each of the corners of the base 12 to advantageously render the apparatus 10 readily movable or portable in any direction from one location to another.

The base 12 is formed with an opening 16 so that legs 18 and 20 can straddle an upright water bottle 22 resting on the floor. The base 12 has mounted thereon a bracket 24 supporting an elevator motor 26 with attached reduction gearbox 28 and journaling the lower end of a vertical threaded rod or screw 30. The base 12 also supports a vertical elevator frame 32 that includes at least one vertical rail 34 and a vertical elevator rail 36. The elevator frame 32 includes a top plate 38 to which the top of each rail 34 and the top of the elevator rail 36 are connected and the threaded rod 30 is suitably journaled. A pair of handles 40 optionally extends from the elevator frame 32 for facilitating movement of the apparatus 10 on the wheels 14.

The bottle elevator assembly 42, as illustrated in finer detail in FIGS. 2 and 2A, comprises an elevator bracket 46 and an elevator nut 56, and is integrally connected to a rotator mechanism 68 comprising a support sleeve 58 and a rotator motor 62. The bottle elevator assembly 42 cooperates with the threaded rod 30 and the elevator rail 36 in elevating the bottle 22.

The elevator bracket 46 embraces the vertical elevator rail 36. Nylon roller bushings 48 are rotatably mounted on clevis pins 50 and engage with the rail 36 in facilitating the vertical raising and lowering of the bottle 22. The clevis pins 50 also serve to couple the angle iron tensioners 52 to the bracket 46. Tensioning bolts 54 extend through and bear against the pair of angle iron tensioners 52 on opposed sides of the rail 36 and serve to pull the associated pair of tensioners 52 together and consequently pull the roller bushings 48 tightly against the rail 36.

Connected to the bracket 46 is the elevator nut 56 that meshes with the threads of the vertical threaded rod 30 in raising and lowering the elevator assembly 42. The elevator bracket 46 is also rigidly affixed to a horizontally oriented support sleeve 58 that is adapted for receiving the rotatable support shaft 60. Further affixed to the support sleeve 58 by the motor mounting bracket 66 is the rotator motor 62.

The horizontal support shaft 60 is supported rotatably inside the support sleeve 58. The rotator motor 62 drives a first end of the support shaft 60 via the rotator drive coupling 64. Mounted at the opposite end of the support shaft 60 is the bottle gripping mechanism 70. In the preferred embodiment, the rotator drive coupling 64 comprises a belt 92 tensioned about a sheave 94 disposed on the output shaft of the rotator motor 62 and another sheave 96 disposed on the one end of the support shaft 60.

The bottle gripping mechanism 70 comprises an alignment plate 78, a gripper motor 72, and a pair of gripper arms 82. The alignment plate 78 is rigidly affixed to the end of the support shaft 60 and provides mounting support for the other components of the gripping mechanism 70. The upper and lower portions of the plate 78 are shaped to accommodate a water bottle 22. Mounted to the rear side of the plate 78, below the support shaft 60, is the gripper gearbox 74 that, in turn, supports a gripper motor 72. The gripper motor 72 drives the gripper gearbox 74, and the output of the gripper gearbox 74 drives the gripper cam 76, which is rotatably mounted through the support shaft 60.

Further, affixed to the rear side of the plate 78 are two symmetrically positioned gripper hinge pins 84 about which the pair of gripper arms 82 are pivotably mounted. A corresponding pair of connecting arms 80 pivotably couples the gripper cam 76 to each of the gripper arms 82, so that rotation of the cam 76 causes the gripper arms 82 to pivot about the hinge pins 84 inwardly and outwardly with respect to the water bottle 22. Operation of the gripper cam 76 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 3A.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, each gripper arm 82 comprises an upper arm 86 and a lower arm 88, interconnected at one end by the hinge pin 84 and at the other end by a cross brace 90, the arms 86 and 88 being curved or shaped to accommodate a water bottle 22. It is recognized that many other specific constructions of gripper arms 82 may be equally effective in carrying out the desired function of the gripping mechanism 70. Additionally, the gripper arms 82 may be configured to accommodate water bottles 22 of any shape.

The operation of the water bottle lifting, rotating, and mounting apparatus 10 may be described as follows. Initially, the apparatus 10 is moved to a location at which it may be associated with a full water bottle 22 that is to be mounted on a water cooler (not illustrated). For convenience of operation, it is also assumed that the valve closure device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 [Posly], or a similarly functioning device, is on the neck of the bottle 22. The legs 18 and 20 straddle the bottle 22 that is disposed in the opening 16. The elevator assembly 42 is in its lowered position so that the alignment plate 78 may be centered on the bottle 22 with the upper and lower curved portions of the plate 78 positioned generally around the upper and lower portions of the bottle 22 and the curved gripper arms 82 positioned around the sides of the bottle 22.

Next, the gripper motor 72 is activated by a switch or other activating device, causing the gripper cam 76 to rotate via the gripper gearbox 74 and thus forcing the gripper connecting arms 80 outward. The connecting arms 80, in turn cause the gripper arms 82 to pivot about the hinge pins 84 inwardly towards the water bottle 22 until the gripper arms 82 are firmly and securely clamped about and against the sides of the bottle 22. The gripper motor 72 is stopped and locked to retain the gripper arms 82 in this position.

Next, the elevator motor 26 is activated by a switch or other activating device, causing the threaded rod 30 to rotate via the gearbox 28, raising the elevator nut 56 up, thus lifting the elevator assembly 42 and the water bottle 22, guided by the elevator rail 36. When the bottle 22 has reached sufficient height to be capable of being mounted in a water cooler, the elevator motor 36 is deactivated. During or following the lifting action, the rotator motor 62 is activated by a switch or other activating device, causing the support shaft 60 to rotate within the support sleeve 58 via the rotator drive coupling 64, and thus rotating the bottle 22. When the bottle has rotated 180° from an upright position to an inverted position, the rotator motor 62 is deactivated and the water bottle 22 remains suspended vertically with its neck pointing downward.

The apparatus 10 may now be laterally moved and positioned to align the neck of the bottle 22 with respect to the well of the water cooler. The elevator motor 26 is then activated in the reverse direction, causing the elevator assembly 42 and the inverted water bottle 22 to be lowered. When the neck of the bottle 22 is in the water cooler to a sufficient extent, the elevator motor 26 is deactivated and the elevator assembly 42 stops. The gripper motor 72 is then unlocked and activated in the reverse direction, causing the gripper arms 82 to pivot outwardly from the water bottle 22, releasing the bottle 22 to rest in the well of the cooler. The apparatus 10 may now be moved away from the water cooler, as the bottle mounting operation is complete.

To return the apparatus 10 to its original starting position, the elevator motor 26 is activated in the reverse direction until the elevator assembly 42 is at its lowered position. For ease of storage, the gripper motor 72 may also be activated in its forward direction to rotate the gripper arms 82 inwardly. Note that the rotator motor 62 need not be activated since the gripping mechanism 70 is symmetrical about the horizontal axis and thus can function in exactly the same fashion when starting in either the “upright” or “inverted” position.

Note that each motor may be controlled manually via switches or automatically by using a combination of sensors or limit switches or other control instrumentation. For purposes of the apparatus of the present invention, the method disclosed herein for lifting, rotating, and mounting a water bottle into a water cooler is the same regardless of the means used to activate and deactivate the elevator motor 26, the gripper motor 72, and the rotator motor 62.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein. 

1. An apparatus for lifting a bottle containing a liquid from an upright position to an inverted position comprising: a base supporting a rigid frame including an elevator rail extending vertically upward from said base; a threaded rod rotatably journaled on said frame; an elevator motor means mounted on said base and coupled to rotationally drive said threaded rod; an elevator assembly comprising a horizontal sleeve, a bracket slidably engaging said elevator rail, and a threaded nut meshed with said threaded rod so that the rotation of said threaded rod by said elevator motor moves said elevator assembly in an upward or a downward direction guided by said elevator rail; a bottle support shaft rotatably supported within said horizontal sleeve; bottle grasping means at one end of said bottle support shaft for embracing and supporting the bottle; bottle rotating means at the opposite end of said bottle support shaft for rotating the bottle in a vertical plane with respect to said elevator assembly, said bottle rotating means operating independently from the vertical movement of said elevator assembly.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottle rotating means comprises a rotator motor supported by said elevator assembly interconnected to the opposite end of said bottle support shaft by a rotator coupling means, thereby enabling said rotator motor to rotationally drive said bottle support shaft.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rotator coupling means comprises a sheave mounted to the output shaft of said rotator motor, a sheave mounted to the other end of said bottle support shaft, and a belt rotationally coupling said sheaves to one another.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottle grasping means comprises a pair of gripper arms adapted to grip the bottle pivotably mounted to the one end of said bottle support shaft, a gripper motor supported by said elevator assembly, and an interconnecting gripper coupling enabling said gripper motor to actuate said gripper arms inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bottle.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said gripper coupling includes a cam for translating the rotational movement of said gripper motor to the translational movement required to pivot said gripper arms about the one end of said bottle support shaft.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said bottle grasping means further comprises locking means and unlocking means to retain said gripper arms in contact with the bottle while the bottle is lifted and rotated and to release said gripper arms after the bottle is set into a water cooler, respectively.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including wheels supporting said base to enable said mechanism to be moved to a position to receive the bottle in the lower upright position thereof, said wheels additionally enabling the mechanism to move across a floor surface while holding the elevated bottle to a position whereby the inverted bottle may be placed into a water cooler.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base includes means for straddling the bottle to permit the gripping means to support and embrace the bottle.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a reduction gear means interconnects said elevator motor to said threaded rod.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elevator assembly further comprises rotatable bushings in engagement with said bracket and said elevator rail, and means for adjusting the pressure of said bushings on said elevator rail.
 11. An apparatus for lifting a bottle containing a liquid from an upright position to an inverted position comprising: a base supporting a rigid frame including an elevator rail extending vertically upward from said base; a threaded rod rotatably journaled on said frame; an elevator motor mounted on said base coupled to rotationally drive said threaded rod; an elevator assembly comprising a horizontal sleeve, a bracket slidably engaging said elevator rail, and a threaded nut meshed with said threaded rod so that the rotation of said threaded rod by said elevator motor will move said elevator assembly in an upward or a downward direction guided by said elevator rail; a bottle support shaft rotatably supported within said horizontal sleeve; bottle grasping means at one end of said bottle support shaft for embracing and supporting the bottle; bottle rotating means at the other end of said bottle support shaft for turning the bottle in a vertical plane with respect to said elevator assembly, said bottle rotating means comprising a rotator motor supported by said elevator assembly rotationally coupled to the other end said bottle support shaft to rotationally drive said bottle support shaft.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bottle grasping means comprises a pair of gripper arms adapted to grip the bottle pivotably mounted to the one end of said bottle support shaft, a gripper motor supported by said elevator assembly, and a coupling interconnecting between said gripper motor and said gripper arms, said coupling including a cam for translating the rotational movement of said gripper motor to actuate said gripper arms inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bottle.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further including wheels supporting said base to enable said mechanism to be moved to a position to receive the bottle in a lower upright position thereof, said wheels additionally enabling the mechanism to move across a floor surface while holding the elevated bottle to a position whereby the inverted bottle may be placed into a water cooler.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said bottle grasping means further comprises locking and unlocking means to retain said gripper arms in contact with the bottle while the bottle is lifted and rotated and to release said gripper arms after the bottle is set into a water cooler, respectively.
 15. An apparatus for lifting a bottle containing a liquid from an upright position to an inverted position comprising: a base supporting a rigid frame including an elevator rail extending vertically upward from said base; a threaded rod rotatably journaled on said frame; an elevator motor mounted on said base coupled to rotationally drive said threaded rod; an elevator assembly comprising a horizontal sleeve, a bracket slidably engaging said elevator rail, and a threaded nut meshed with said threaded rod so that the rotation of said threaded rod by said elevator motor will move said elevator assembly in an upward or a downward direction guided by said elevator rail; a bottle support shaft rotatably supported within said horizontal sleeve; bottle grasping means at one end of said bottle support shaft for embracing and supporting the bottle, said bottle grasping means comprising a pair of gripper arms adapted to grip the bottle pivotably mounted to the one end of said bottle support shaft, a gripper motor supported by said elevator assembly, and an interconnecting coupling including a cam for translating the rotational movement of said gripper motor to actuate said gripper arms inwardly and outwardly with respect to the bottle, said bottle grasping means further comprising locking means to retain said gripper arms in contact with the bottle while the bottle is lifted and rotated and unlocking means to release the bottle after the bottle is set into a water cooler; bottle rotating means at the other end of said bottle support shaft for turning the bottle in a vertical plane with respect to said elevator assembly, said bottle rotating means operating independently from the vertical movement of said elevator assembly.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said bottle rotating means comprises a rotator motor supported by said elevator assembly rotationally coupled to the other end said bottle support shaft to rotationally drive said bottle support shaft.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, further including wheels supporting said base to enable said mechanism to be moved to a position to receive the bottle in a lower upright position thereof, said wheels additionally enabling the mechanism to move across a floor surface while holding the elevated bottle to a position whereby the inverted bottle may be placed into a water cooler. 